Are you struggling to achieve your 500 crunches a day challenge? Worry not because help is on its way. Flaunting tight and toned washable abs is every woman’s dream. And the only thing standing between you and that dream is that ungainly roll of fat.
However, the problem is that no matter how hard you work out in the gym, belly fat is the hardest to get rid. Now as you have all been told by your gym instructor or read on a blog, crunches can go a long way in reducing belly fat.
Sorry to break your bubble, but recent studies have revealed that crunches, when done in the right way, are the most effective tummy reducing exercises. To get abs that inspire awe, you must put a little bit of effort with your technique.
Have you been going to the gym but results aren’t showing yet? If you’re struggling with doing crunches, here is a guide to correctly executing them to obtain proper results
The Trouble With Crunches
Often, when doing crunches, most of us have to deal with gut-wrenching neck pains, both during the workout session and after we get home. Irrespective of the moment when you’re experiencing these pains, their causes are usually similar. Here is why you’re having neck troubles when doing crunches:
- You’re doing the exercise wrong
- Your back muscles are contracted
- Your abdominal muscles are weak
- Your neck muscles have a poor flexibility
Before you give up hope on going to the gym altogether, read our advice for properly executing crunches to get rid of pains and achieve the results you’re always craving.
Improve Your Technique
The first step towards pain-free crunches is to improve your technique and avoid all mistakes you make during your workout. The most common exercises performed for a fit abdomen are crunches and sit-ups, precisely those same exercises that require you to position your hands behind your head.
Done incorrectly, these lead to the overcharging of the cervical zone and, in some cases even to intense pains during and after the workout session. To prevent this from happening, here are some simple rules you need to have in mind:
- Always keep your chin up and keep your neck straight when you’re getting up from the ground
- Keep your hands behind your ears rather than behind your head; more precisely, gently touch your ears while keeping your elbows as further apart from each other as you can.
Change Your Exercises
The road towards the perfect pain-free abdomen may require you to perform some exercises that are not executed by overcharging your neck. Among the most effective exercises for a perfect belly you can find include:
- Performing crunches with the help of a bench
- Using a fit ball or an ab roller
- Lifting your legs from any position you find comfortable, whether it’s on the ground or vertical with the aid of a special gym machine.
Pay Attention to Your Posture
Lifting weights are also among the exercises that can help you obtain that much-desired flat belly. However, so as not to overcharge your joints and other sensible body parts you must pay close attention to your body’s posture. Try to perform crunches with your back arched a little.
Keep Your Movements Slow and Controlled
If you rush through your reps, the chances are that you are not going to reap the same benefits as you would if you slowed down. With fast movements, you end up using momentum rather than strength, thus taking your abs completely out of the equation. It is advisable to keep your movements slow and controlled and at the end of each rep, pause with your back firmly against the floor.
How Many Calories Do Crunches Burn?
The number of calories you burn through crunches depends on the intensity and duration of your workout. Although crunches are mostly beneficial for muscle development, they can equally help you burn a lot of belly fat.
An average person weighing 150 pounds burns roughly two calories after every ten crunches. This means that with 500 crunches a day, you’ll burn a hundred calories or so which is quite impressive though challenging.
Let's Crunch Now!
Want to flatten your tummy? Cultivate a washboard abdomen? Lose those love handles? If you’ve not already invested in an ab device, you might just save your money, get down on your exercise mat and start doing some crunches to get as good an effect as that from any of the popular ab devices. Always remember, technique is essential.
Did you enjoy the article or have any other suggestions on getting rid of belly fat? Leave us a comment down below! We would love to hear what you think.